Main menu

Unbridled’s Song put down in Kentucky

Saturday, 27 July 2013

Former Arrowfield Stud shuttler Unbridled’s Song has died in Kentucky. He was 20.

His long reign at Taylor Made Stallions came to an end after a rapid decline in health. The grey champion began exhibiting acute neurological signs last week and MRI scans revealed a mass invasion around sinus cavities and optic nerves that was deemed inoperable.

Unbridled’s Song (Unbridled – Trolley by Caro) had just completed his 17th season at Taylor Made where he stood for $60,000. “He was majestic from the beginning,” Taylor Made president Duncan Taylor said. “He had it all – looks, pedigree, speed and presence.

“Our team loved him from the beginning and I thank the breeders and owners who supported and helped him become a great stallion.”

Unbridled’s Song burst on the scene when he sold for a 2YO world-record of $1.40 million at the 1995 Barretts March Sale. But buyer Hiroshi Fujita backed out of the sale when vets detected bone chips in his near foreleg.

Seller Ernie Pargallo and consignor Taylor Made would dispute that diagnosis and Paragallo welcomed the opportunity to race the grey son of 1990 Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled.

Unbridled’s Song would quickly deliver winning the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Belmont Park before training on to land the G1 Florida Derby and G1 Wood Memorial Stakes. He pulled up lame after finishing fifth in the 1996 Kentucky Derby won by Grindstone.

Resuming at Gulfstream Park as a four year-old, he went out a winner in the 1997 Olympic Handicap and retired with a 12-5-4-0 record and $1.31 million in prizemoney.

His next career move would prove just as successful at Taylor Made as a stallion. From 14 crops to race to date, Unbridled’s Song has sired 730 winners including champions Midshipman, Embur’s Song, Unrivaled Belle and Unbridled Elaine.

Graydar became his 100th stakes winner in the G1 Donn Hcp at Gulfstream Park earlier this year. That milestone has been reached by only 26 other North American-based stallions.

Unbridled’s Song shuttled for three seasons until 1999 but he couldn’t command a southern fee high enough to justify further trips to Arrowfield Stud. He sired 106 winners down here at a sensational 79% strike-rate.

His Australian black-type progeny included millionaire stayer Grey Song and iron-horse Omni Trader who won 27 races in Queensland.